Begin with the Conclusion. The more senior the leader, the faster they want us to get to the point. When communicating with leaders:

1. Lead with a problem your audience cares about
2. Concisely explain what we need to do
3. Provide supporting evidence. Best is a combination of analysis and research, then analysis alone, then research alone. Work in the context of your audience's view of the world. If a supporting point is one they won't agree with, you'll have trouble landing your message. Remember that leaders don't care about what you think. They care about why they should change what they think.
4. Make it easy to reply. Avoid open ended questions. Present a recommendation and ask a yes no question. Bold it and highlight it. For example, Do you agree with our recommendation to …?

If you follow this advice, you will build credibility, win support more often, and be viewed as a stronger manager of stakeholder relationship, an increasingly important skill as you advance in your career.